Analysis of a sequence of data in object-oriented environments

• US 8,046,749 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Rong, Singh, Rajiv, Owen, James G., Gahinet, Pascal
• Primary Examiner(s): Das; Chameli
• Application Number:
  US11/475,320
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/141
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/18 for evaluating statistical data , e.g. average values, frequency distributions, probability functions, regression analysis forecasting specially adapted for a specific administrative, business or logistic context G06Q10/04

Abstract

A tool for analyzing a sequence of data in an object-oriented environment is disclosed. In an embodiment, the sequence of data may include time-indexed sequence of data (“time series data”). The tool may enable a user to generate a time series object for encapsulating the time series data in the object-oriented environment. The user may construct the time series object from data or mathematical expressions using a command line interface. The time series object may include a sequence of objects implementing APIs that supply an interface for analyzing the times series data in the time series object. The user may analyze the time series data encapsulated in the time series object using the APIs of the time series object.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for analyzing a sequence of data in an object oriented environment, the method comprising the steps of:

with a processor,

providing a time series object for encapsulating the sequence of data indexed by time, wherein the object has properties and methods, wherein the properties of the object include the sequence of data, indices of the sequence of data, metadata describing the sequence of data, and information on an interpolation algorithm for the time series object, comprising information on an interpolation algorithm for the sequence of data indexed by time so that the sequence of data is automatically interpolated or extrapolated using the interpolation algorithm when re-sampling the sequence of data; and

analyzing the sequence of data by using the methods of the object,

wherein the methods of the object comprise at least one of statistical methods and signal processing methods.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the object oriented environment comprises a dynamically typed technical computing environment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the series object is constructed from an object representing a data source.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

representing missing data in the sequence of data using the status information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the series object represents at least one of stochastic simulation data, video signals, sound signals, and mathematical functions of time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

enabling a user to modify the properties of the object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the properties of the object comprise status information of the sequence of data so that the sequence of data can be conditionally analyzed depending upon the status information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the interpolation algorithm is applied to an analysis of multi-rate or non-uniformly sampled data logged from a simulation system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein an anonymous function handle represents the interpolation algorithm to be used.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the properties of the object comprise information on events for extracting an interval of the sequence of data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein times of the events depend on the sequence of data so that if the data changes, locations of the events change.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

enabling a user to define an interval to extract an interval of the sequence of data.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a data storage object for storing the properties of the object in an external source, wherein the storage object abstracts the external source.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the storage object includes methods for manipulating data stored in the external source.

15. A computer-implemented method for analyzing a plurality of sequences of data in an object oriented environment, the method comprising the steps of:

with a processor,

providing a collection object that includes multiple time series objects for encapsulating multiple sequences of data indexed by time, wherein the collection object has properties and methods, wherein the properties of the collection object include an index vector that is shared by the multiple sequences of data; and

wherein at least one of the time series objects has properties that include information on an interpolation algorithm for the time series object, comprising information on an interpolation algorithm for the sequence of data indexed by time so that the sequence of data is automatically interpolated or extrapolated using the interpolation algorithm when re-sampling the sequence of data; and

analyzing the multiple sequences of data by using the methods of the collection object.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the methods of the collection object apply to the multiple sequences of data simultaneously.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the index vector is accessible from properties of the multiple series objects.

18. A non-transitory medium storing computer executable instructions for analyzing a sequence of data in an object oriented environment, the instructions are executed to:

provide a time series object for encapsulating the sequence of data indexed by time, wherein the object has properties and methods, wherein the properties of the object include the sequence of data, indices of the sequence of data metadata describing the sequence of data, and information on an interpolation algorithm for the time series object, comprising information on an interpolation algorithm for the sequence of data indexed by time so that the sequence of data is automatically interpolated or extrapolated using the interpolation algorithm when re-sampling the sequence of data; and

analyze the sequence of data by using the methods of the object.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the object oriented environment comprises a dynamically typed technical computing environment.

20. The medium of claim 18, wherein the methods of the object comprise at least one of statistical methods and signal processing methods.

21. The medium of claim 18, wherein the series object is constructed from an object representing a data source.

22. The medium of claim 18, wherein the series object represents at least one of stochastic simulation data, video signals, sound signals, and mathematical functions of time.

23. The medium of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

enabling a user to modify the properties of the object.

24. The medium of claim 18, wherein the properties of the object comprise status information of the sequence of data so that the sequence of data can be conditionally analyzed depending upon the status information.

25. The medium of claim 24, further comprising:

representing missing data in the sequence of data using the status information.

26. The medium of claim 18, wherein the interpolation algorithm is applied to an analysis of multi-rate or non-uniformly sampled data logged from a simulation system.

27. The medium of claim 18, wherein an anonymous function handle represents the interpolation algorithm to be used.

28. The medium of claim 18, wherein the properties of the object comprise information on events for extracting an interval of the sequence of data.

29. The medium of claim 28, wherein the events depend on the sequence of data so that if the data changes, locations of the events change.

30. The medium of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

enabling a user to define an interval to extract an interval of the sequence of data.

31. The medium of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

providing a data storage object for storing the properties of the object in an external source, wherein the storage object abstracts the external source.

32. The medium of claim 31, wherein the storage object includes methods for manipulating data stored in the external source.

33. A non-transitory medium storing computer executable instructions for analyzing a plurality of sequences of data in an object oriented environment, wherein the instructions are executed to:

provide a collection object that includes multiple time series objects for encapsulating the sequences of data indexed by time, wherein the collection object has properties and methods, wherein the properties of the collection object include an index vector that is shared by the multiple sequences of data;

wherein at least one of the time series objects has properties that include information on an interpolation algorithm for the time series object, comprising information on an interpolation algorithm for the sequence of data indexed by time so that the sequence of data is automatically interpolated or extrapolated using the interpolation algorithm when re-sampling the sequence of data; and

analyze the multiple sequences of data by using the methods of the collection object.

34. The medium of claim 33, wherein the methods of the collection object apply to the multiple sequences of data simultaneously.

35. The medium of claim 33, wherein the index vector is accessible from properties of the multiple series objects.

36. A computer-implemented method for analyzing a sequence of data indexed by time in an object oriented environment, the method comprising the steps of:

with a processor,

downloading a tool from a server, wherein the tool enables a user to encapsulate the sequence of data indexed by time in a time series object, the object having properties and methods, the properties of the object including the sequence of data, indices of the sequence of data metadata describing the sequence of data, and information on an interpolation algorithm for the time series object, comprising information on an interpolation algorithm for the sequence of data indexed by time so that the sequence of data is automatically interpolated or extrapolated using the interpolation algorithm when re-sampling the sequence of data; and

analyzing the sequence of data by using the tool.

37. A computer-implemented method for analyzing a sequence of data indexed by time in an object oriented environment, the method comprising the steps of:

with a processor,

providing a time series object for encapsulating the sequence of data indexed by time, wherein the object has properties and methods, wherein the properties of the object includes the sequence of data, indices of the sequence of data metadata describing the sequence of data, and information on an interpolation algorithm for the time series object, comprising information on an interpolation algorithm for the sequence of data indexed by time so that the sequence of data is automatically interpolated or extrapolated using the interpolation algorithm when re-sampling the sequence of data; and

analyzing the sequence of data indexed by time by using the methods of the time series object,

wherein the properties of the object comprise status information of the sequence of data so that the sequence of data can be conditionally analyzed depending upon the status information.